Controlling means for transmission mechanism.



J. GFLOGKYER & J. P. FRANK.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APlLfi, 1912.

:1 ,043,4 45. Patented Nov. 5, 1912 s SHEETSSHEET 1,

. a WITNESSES: INVENTOR/Q/ J. c LOGKYER & J. P. FRANK.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB..8, 1912.

. 1,043,445. I Patented N0v.5 1912.

, s SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG I: w F1 [3 4 FIG 2 WIT/#588158.-

Wmomm J C. LOOKYER & J. P. FRANK.

CONTROLLING MEANS F( )R TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB.8, 1012.

mawqa 4 ilatented m. 5, 1912.

SSHBETS-SHEET 3 F1; 7

FIB E3 W/T/VE8E8: v IMF/W094 Gan im. I W dflfl d,

M ATTORNEY and partly broken away. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of suflicient of the transmission UN ITEl) STATES PATENT @FFlQF.

JOHN C. LOCKYER AND JOHN P. FRANK, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, 1912.

To a-ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN C. LOCKYER and JOHN P. FRANK, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have in vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Controlling Means for Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new andiiseful improvements in controlling means for transmission mechanism.

The object ofour invention is to provide means mounted on the steering post of an automobile, for selecting the different speed gears thereof, and a device controlled by the foot of the driver for throwing into engagement the gears which have been thus selected, as well as the driving clutch. By socontrolling the selection of the different speed gears from the steering post of an automobile, the side levercommonly nployed for this purposeis abandoned, iereby permitting the driver or any 0th person to readily enter. the front of the car from either side thereof. It also centralizes the different elements of control, by bringing together in a position immediately in front of the driver the steering wheel, the selective mechanism, the spark control and the throttle.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction which will hold the clutch outof engagement until the selected gearsaare engaged, and prevent the disengagement of the said gears before the clutch is disengaged.

' Withthcse and other incidental objects in view, our invention consists in the certain novel arrangementand construction of parts hereinafter described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims. a

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of our invention, in section gearing to illustratedhcapplication of our controlling mechanism thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the shaft upon which are arranged the fingers for selectingtlije different speed gears. Fig. 4.. is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a top plan v ewof the selective wheel carried by the steering post. Fig. 6 is a section on the line a--o of Fig. 1,

r showing the notched disk and pawl used as Patented Nov. 5, 1912. Serial No. 689,105.

a locating medium for the selective wheel. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the notched disk for locking the selective mechanism in any of its different positions. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the foot-controlled device for imparting longitudinal movement to the selective-finger shaft and driving clutch. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the housing for the selective'fingers,'-showing one of the longitudinal slots in which said fingers are movable. Fig. 10 is a side view of a modified form of our transmissionmechanism selective means, and Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the curved plate containing the guide slot in which in Fig. 10 is movable.

Throughout the specification and drawings, like reference characters denote cor responding parts.

In a detailed description of our invention, 1 designates a steering post or column which is secured to the body 'of an automobile in any suitable manner. Journaled within the post 1, which is preferably of inclined tubular form, is :1V tubular shaft 2 upon the upper end of which is mounted a steering wheel 3. Rotatably mounted upon the tubular shaft 2' is a sleeve 4 to the upper end of which is attached a circular wheel 5 divided by mark or letter int-o divisions 6 corresponding to the neutral, reverse, and forward speed positions of the transmission gearing. lVhile any number of divisions may be provided on the circular whcel 5, we have shown five, viz., neutral, reverse, and three forward speed positionsi Attached to the upper portion of the steering post list a finder 6, n-efcrably of hook shape. for use in connection with the selective wheel 5. This wheel. may be moved continuously in either direction to bring a certain designation thereon opposite the finder (3, which movement is made possible through mechanism hereinafter to be described. Carried by the other end of the sleeve 4 is a bevel -gcaP- Z which meshes with a similar gear 8 keyed to'a transverse shaft 0 which is ournaled at its"forwardeiid in suitable bearings secured in vertically disposed arms 10. and 11 of a bracket- 19. attached to the frame of the automobile. The rear portion of the shaft 9 is iourn'alcd in a transmission housing 13, iii-which is also journalcd. in ion gitudinal alinementwith said shaft, :1. main driving shaft 14- carrying a. gear 15 and. a clutch member 16, Journal cd in the transthe lever shown same is deemed unneeessanv.

formed in a \lindrieal lime-hie lHlSalOlt he Hing l? in line with the driving ahatt t t a tl'aHEllllSSl-TH] shaft 17 m \Yhieh i1 keyed t er axial movement t'heremn gear: 19, if) and 2t) and a eluteh neniher it. When the c'luteh member 2] is shifted inta engagement with the (:luteh inen'iher 1.6, t driving- Shaft 14 la therehy coupled diret ll t0 the t'l'flllSlTltS inn shat't l7 and the antemehile, dr v n at it Qjl'ttltCSt speed. lx'hen the said lut h weathers are disengage. nuitien is; transmitted threr ;h the gear 1'), to a pint 1: tad an a ealmtershatt tn t shown) and t lu' 'rued; other pininns Fast thereon to any one at the selected gears 18, it) er E20. and through them to the transinissimi shatt 17 t0 \Ylllt'lt t'l'lQ are keyed. As the ransmissien llltClltHllFll'l itselt ma he any one of the. cunnnen types and terma no part at our inventinn, a further deaeriptian at the Each at the gears 18 it) and 2t). and the eluteh memher 21, provided with a huh 2" having a grooved periphery: iineaefing the grooved hubs at the gears l8. l9 and 20 and the inher M the ahit ne; leret-- .Jh

2h 2 and 2th and are arranged aniratly an 1 the ahatt' ltt as will he en h ret' erriag tn and l.

i and HS enrrt p inling: reller may he eie he t : H3 in nnriaatly he d in la: en set enntprtaes trn 1 t wardtr prnieeting fingers --u arranged and i snaeed apart that the will regiFter with any ene at the annular greorea rest. ,heretme when a set at lingers 30.

for example. ia rotated aullirienttv h the i hat't f the tingiers at that set will grip hetueen th ni the rn ller ing: lever lit: and when the haft i- Il'ttfltttl leagritudiuatly, Faid lingers and rnller will he, likewise tn-n'ed, tlH'OttSIli a let in the epening: hetween thent in Whieh the rullera 28 nerinallyi all the wthrr ting-era with their tu'rerun'tea in n'hieh the}: rest. lltttIr-iltltj 2t) tnru a leelt'ing mean tor the. gearxhit'tingr teters Ft) that the are inuneratire exee t when engaged h the ele tire e itien hr the annular fingers. l l' hen the linger: 3t), and the rnlter 28 carried in the lever 23. are disengaged hy rutatiing the shaft 3, any other (it fingers at provided in the hraeliet' 12. is a pawl 32. \vhieln as said (llah' ix retated. will engage any une ot the netehes Z33" thereenhr reasen at the upward nrt'wnre exerted agraiaat said pawl hr a spring 'tni nnted in the nid guide slot. liaeh at the netehe. lit earrtwnainls to a ptlhltltll. in \rhieh rate at the relter. '23 \till he engaged h a ertain eel et' ,-'eleetinif fingers and a peuitian in \Yh'ieh none at the lingers and tellers .\'lll ene'zng'e ur a neutral. pnsitien une'u na iautinn n'iti he tI .n a 'i1ittetl from the driving; tn the tranainis inn shalt. .ts we have ehen'n a neutral, re 'eree and three ttal'Wfit'tl speed 1 -:it'ien. there will he tire nutehea en the eireular dielc air As eat-h at the netehea H t him a eaa'rwg r din indiratien tt en the eireular wheel the en- J'agetnent el the pawl 32 with an ine at the said nnteaea \xill indieate to the drirez' the point at nhieh the neutrah re\'ee.-.e in. terniard speed rua itian de-ired has heen eeleetett ee Fiee. t and tt.

lhd'erring t'e t i ejhtt. 13 tlfdffltzilt'fi a peu'er shatt tn whirl. i.- tufted a (tlli-F Hlllt l 4' nienila-r itl adapted m e "age a simila ru aher 17 last an the dratt tar the ur an 0t dririn g said ahz 't. "lnt h ni hiher eugageua at with the etuteh nieinher It? h a r ring 231 and i.-= disene'agzed theret'rtrai h an arm -tt) eart 'in) a reller tl \rhieh rests in an annular egr ire termed in the 'w-ri ih rrt' at the l.'1 t2 et the said eluteh .ueniher il-tt. The .1 arm t) lnuunted an a shat"; l inurnaled in the 'l'razne at the antenv tan and is eanneeted to an arm tt t'a t an a e nt hpedal ahatt' t5 h a linlc t. Y l'ile we have. ahnnn a driving: 'lttttll at it raue type. an) une. (it the other terms at eintehes centinenl u=ed in aut niuhiles may he eninha'ed.

'the tlitttthpttt tl ahat't t?) is lt tttfiitlttl tar rutatinn in suit'ahle hearings seeured to the main tran-e at theea' and has attaehetl therete a font pedal IT. Mounted ml: the said hat't l5 i:-: HI arm 45* earryine' a reller ti whi h nanea in a -tei at? ht e. eani aria fhiatetr animated-en the aha t it and tying r uaert d tn the eluteh the radial portion of the slot 50 without imparting any motion to the cam arm 51, until said. roller enters the Vertical portion of the slot 50 when a-further downward movement of the foot-pedal 47 will cause. said roller to move the cam arm 51 longitudinally. This movement will be imparted to the shaft 9 to disengage the gears which may have been previously selected by the circular wheel 5. It will thus be seen that v 15 the clutch members 36 and 37 mustbe first disengaged before the selected gears can be. shifted, thus making stripping qfethe ge a'rs" impossible. When another-gea r is selected by the selecting mechanism hereinbefore de scribed, pressure on the foot-pedal -47 is released?" The expanding clutch spring 38 will now exert its pressure to rock the shaft I formed in its outer periphery.

45v in a reverse direction, through the arm 4.0, link *6 andarm 44e, whereupon the arm 48 will move downwardly and the roller 9' carried thereby will impart a reverse longitudinal movement to the shaft 9 until said "roller enters the radial portion of the slot 50. The arm 48 will continue in its downward movement until the engagement of the clutch members 36 and 37 is complete. but no further longitudinal movement will be imparted to the shaft 9 since the roller 49 moves the rest of the distance through the radial portion of the-slot 50. This slot. and roller constructiontherefore makes it impossible for the clutch members to engage before the gears are shifted.

Carried by a collar 54 mounted on the shaft 9 in front of the clutch pedal shaft ifn'is a circular disk 55 having uotchesbti Adapted to engage these notches 56 is an arm 57 mounted on the clutch-pedal shaft 45. These notches correspond to the notches onthe disk 30 and the divisions on'the Cl!- cular wheel Accordingly, when the shaft 9 is rotated by the circular wheel 5 to select a certain gear in the transmission, the disk will be rotatedto bring into a position to r be engaged by thearmfir', the notch of the disk 55 which corresponds to the selected gear. The geafantl clutch-shifting mech- TafiisnrwilLtherafore,he locked until the arm 57 is ttiscngagciFfronrthe aid notch by the foot pedal 47. All of,the iiotcl-lesjb corresponding to the reve se and d ce forward speed positions, are keep enough to' pcrmih" a slight disengagenuurt,of the clutch mem- 'j hers 36 and 37 when t ounding a curve or. suddenly slowing up. without the necessity of shifting the gears. The notch on the disk mirrcsponding to the neutral positipn is.ot' sullicientdepth to lock the cir- "ci'ifiar wheel 5, but not of sutlicient depth frame of the automobile at a point where a toothed sector 59 carried thereby may engage a bevel gear 60 mounted on the shaft 9, see Figs. 10 and 11. This lever 58 is ad. ted to be moved througlra radial slot- 61 ormed in a circumferential guide plate 62,- having indicated thereon bymark or letter the same positions as are displayed on the circular wheel 5. \Vhen the lever is mov'ed to any desired pos i'tiointhe shaft;9 will be rotated accordingly to select a corresponding gear in the manner hereinbeforg described.

e To illustrate the operation of our'invention, we will employ the following specific example. It is desired, for instance, to select the third forward, or highest speed, which is indicated by the figure 3 on the circular'wheel 5. Foot pressure is first applied to the foot pedal 47 to disengage any previously selected gear and throw out the clutch. The circular wheel is then rotated until the figure 3 thereon is in a position opposite the finder 6. Its correct position will be indicated when the notch of the disk 3O corresponding to the figure 2-3." is engaged bythe pawl 32. The rotation of the circular wheel 5 to this position will in turn,

the said figure 3, into a position to be en gaged by the arm 57. Pressure on the footpedal 47, is then gradually reduced. where-,

upon the roller 49. now in the vertical portion of the slot 50, will communicate the pressure exerted upon it by the arm 48, to

the cam arm 51, which will in turn move the shaft 9 toward the housing 13. This longitudinal movement of the shaft 9 will shift the fingers 33 and roller 28. to move its the lever 26 a sufficient extent to press;- the clutch member 21 into engagement with the clutch member 10. The driving shaft it will then be directly coupled to the transmission shaft 17. and locked in such position by the arm 57 carried by the clutch-pedal shaft 45. engaging the notch referred to on 'sa-idililutQ members is complete, the roller 49 ente'rs' the radial "portion of the slot 50.

theglisk When the engagement cf the whereupon a furtheranpward movement of the foot-pedal .47 will gradually permit the cngagemcntof the clutch members M and- 37 to connect the engine shaft 35 and transmission shaft 17, through the shaft 14, but

impart no further movement to the shaft 9.

The engine will 110W drive the car at its highest speed until the clutch members 36 and 37 are t'lisengaged or the engine stopped. Our invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein sh wn and described, but the character of the means employed ma be varied to suit ditlerent conditions of use.

Ilaving described our elaiin:

l 1. ln a transmission mechanism, a shaft upon which are arranged ditl erent sets of selecting fingers for engagen'lent with a plurality of gear-shitting devices, a manuallycontrolled member adapted to assume different positions, in operative connection with said shaft, said shaft adapted to be rotated in either direction by said member to present a certain set of fingers to :1 corresponding gear-shitting device, a foot-controlled member for imparting longitudinal move ment to said shaft to shift the selected set of fingers aml correspomling gear-shitting device. and locking means carried by said shaft. but having no longitudinal movement therewith. for rendering said gear-shitting devices inoperative except when engaged by the selecting lingers, substantially as described.

2. In a transmission mechanism, ashatt. upon which are arranged dillerent sets of selecting lingers in ditlerent radial planes. for engagement with a, pluralitv ot gain-shitting devi es. a manuallv controlled member adapted to assume dill'erent positions, said shatt adapted to be rotated in either direction by said member to present a certain set of fingers to a corres mnding gear-shitting device, a l'oot-controlled member for imparting longitudinal movement to said shaft to shit't the selected set ol fingers and corresp nding gear-shitting device, a cylindrial housing carried b said shaft but; having 45 no longitudinal movement therewith. ammlar grooves l)l(l\'l(-l(tl in said housing in whi h said gearhift ing devices engage, one .froovc tor each gear-shitting device, longitudinal slots provided in said housing. one for each set of selective tingersmid through whi h said s t ol selective fingers and its t'()ll'(. .[)tllitlillfl gear shitting device is movaldc when in engagement with each other,

invention,

\vlnir bv, wh n the shall. is given longitu- :wl ol' selective lingers dinal movement. ai

vv'ill bisliitt lhr g'h their rorrespomling slot in the cvlindrnal h using; while the llu-r grail-shitting d me will be locloah lill'= :.i'l\ tilt-it ngagcnn'znt.

ciutch a spring adapted to hold the and its correx;mmling geur shil'ting device aid housing; vemrnt is iml l l t clutch men'ibers in engagen'lent, a plurality of gear-shitting levers, a longitudinallymovahle shaft adapted to shift a selected one of said gear-shitting levers, a cam arm carried by said shaft, said cam arm provided with a slot having a vertical portion and a clutch, a spring adapted to holdtheclutchmembers in engagement,- a plurality of gearshit'ting levers, a lra'igitudinally movable shatt adapted to shift a selected one of said gear-shitting levers, a cam arm carried by said shaft. .said :am arm provided with a slot having a vertical portion and a portion radial with the shaft, a clutch-pedal shaft,

.and an arm mounted thereon carrying a roller adapted to move. through said'sl'o t for the purpose ol. ell'eetiing the uncoupling of the ('llltt'll meu'ibers without shitting 'the lcngitudimillv-movable shaft and selected gear-shitting lever, when traveling in the radial portion oi the. slot, and shifting said shaft and gear-shitting lever after entering the vertical portion of said slot, substantially 'as described.

5. In a transmission mcchanisn'i, a handconlrolled member adapted to assume (litterent positions, a shaft upon which are arranged ditl'erent sets ot selecting fingers tor engagement with a plurality of gearshitting devices, said sha'll adapted to be rotated by the harid-controlled member to present a certain set of lingers to a corresprmding gear-shitting device, a disk carried by said sha'l't amt having notches therein corresponding to the different positions of the haml-controlled member, and a clutcl'i-pedal shall carrying an arm adapted to engage the notches in said dislt to lock a selected setot' lingers and rorresponding gear-shitting device in their selected position, substantially as described.

in a transmission mechanism, a driving clutch, a spring adapted to hold the clutch nu-mhers in engagement, :1' handcontrolled dislt mounted in l'ront o't the driver aml adapted to be rotated to assume di'tl'erent positions, a shal't upon which are arranged dill'erent sets (it selectin fingers for engage- -ment with a pluralitv ol gear-sliittinglevers,

said shat't adapted to be. rotated by the disk to prcsei'it a certain set. ot fingers to a corresponding gear-shifting lever, a dielt 'urried by said shaft having notches therein corresponding to the different positions of the hand-controlled disk, at clutch-pedal shaft operatirely connected with the clutch members and first named shaft. to uncouple the former and shift the latter, and an .nrin carried by the clutch-pedal shaft adapted to engage the notches on said disk to look n l selected set of fingers and corresponding gear-shifting lever in their selected position, the notches on said disk corresponding to the ditleren't geanshiftin'g levers'bein of I su'tlieient depth to permit of a slight dnaen-' gagement of the clutch members withoiitl shifting a selected set of fingers and r- I restmnding gehnshifling lever, substantially as described.

'7. ln :1 transmission ln ?(l1:111l51l1. in. driving clutch .e-qri'ngr adapted to hold the elntrh members in giigeinent, e. handwontrolled 1 module in front of the driver and to be winter? to tlSSlllllt: difl'ereni sets of sele "ting fingers for enrz; ment n th a plurality of gear-shifting levoreg said 5 i opted to be rotated by the disk respmnling geunshi'fting lever :1 disk zirried by said shaft having notchee'therein rorrt-Aponding to the dill'erent positions of the hand-controlled disk, :1 clutch pedolhnft operutive r connected with the :rlotch members and first; named shaft to unronplo the former and elll'ft the latter and an arm carried by the clutch pedal ehutt udnptcd to ngage the notches in said disk to look 21 s l ied set of lingers and (oi-responding g'mr-hhi'l'ling lever in their elertod position,

;the ln l't'llts on said dis-l; rorrespondiug to the neutral ptmlllml oi the heint-Controlled g dlslt being of sidlirient depth to lUt'l-I the wlut'toil set of lingers- 11nd corrmponding igi'ounehi'l ting lerer, but not of eulfioient depth to permit the ronpllngof the driving (-lutvli members by the npringn substztntinllx as deex-ril ed.

l n twiirmny wher of We have hereunttr set our handsthia 6th day of April A. ll.

dhtnees lloim an S 

